Statue: James Hulbert
Erection date: /5/1978
{Inscribed on the south face of the plinth:}
In memory of Mr. James Hulbert late citizen and Fishmonger of London deceased, the worthy benefactor who recommended ye care of building the Almeshouses in this square to Urban Hall, Robt. Oxwick, Esqrs and Mr. Richard West, members of ye said company, this statue was erected in the year of our Lord 1724.
{East side, lower right:}
Rt. Daston Fecit
{North side:}
The Wardens of the Wor. Company of Fishmongers, London, pursuant to the Wish of Mr James Hulbert whom departed this life in {the} year of his Primewardenship 1719 erected and endowed the Twenty almeshouses in this Square for twenty poor men & women.
Robt. Oxwick Esq. - Primewarden
Mr. William Proctor, Mr. William Parrot, Mr. Samuel Palmer, Mr. Samuel Walters, Mr. John Towers - Wardens
Anno Dom 1724
{On adjacent wall, three plaques, regarding change of site of the statue:}
Regarding the original placement at St. Peter's Hospital, Newington within the area of the (20) houses built by his munificence was removed and re-erected on this spot. Inscribed by order of court 1853.
Benjamin Shaw Esq. - Primewarden
This statue of James Hulbert was removed from St. Peter's Hospital Wandsworth to Jesus Hospital Bray on the closing of the former hospital 1923.
This statue of James Hulbert was removed from the ground of the Jesus Hospital and placed in this garden in May 1978.
We took our photos from the Riverside Walk, through a locked gate. To the right of our photo (out of view) one can see into the large entrance porch to Fishmongers' Hall. Only the south side of the plinth is visible through the gate. The other inscriptions, including the three plaques, have been taken from PMSA, which also has a picture from the front. At least some of the inscriptions were probably re-carved during one of the moves since, apparently, the inscription on the east side really does read "Daston", although the sculptor is known to be "Easton".
Site: James Hulbert (1 memorial)
EC4, Riverside walk, Garden of Fishmongers' Hall
1724 the statue was erected in a courtyard/square in Hulbert's extension to St Peter's Hospital, Southwark, which Hulbert had funded. When the hospital/almshouses were demolished in 1851 and rebuilt in East Hill the statue was re-erected there. In 1923 the almshouses were demolished again and the statue was taken to Jesus Hospital, Bray, another of the company’s almshouses. Finally in 1978 it was moved to this garden beside Fishmongers' Hall.
We've found two other almshouse statues that have moved - see Dick Whittington.
Fishmongers Hall was demolished and rebuilt as part of the 1830s London Bridge development. Designed by Henry Roberts but his assistant, the young George Gilbert Scott, did the drawings. Londonist have good photos of the weird London Bridge Chair, inside this Halll.
